Under
Slick
APF Records
Release: May 2017

In January I decided to finally launch the record label I'd been planning for some time. Conversations were had with bands who might be interested, but I never thought to approach Under. I assumed they would be tied up with someone else. Somehow the stars became aligned and I found myself in discussions with them about becoming my first signing.

I had admired the Stockport trio since first seeing them blow a tiny venue to smithereens in Fallowfield in 2015. Like all the best power trios they created a sound that was more than the sum of their parts. The combination of incredible technical ability, their desire to push the boundaries of heavy music further into left field, and the immense noise they made when they settled on a big riff immediately piqued my interest. Its rare to come across a band who sound like no one else, but in Under I had found one. Their debut self-released EP "First Attempt" captured some of their magic, and served as a reference point for their stunning live shows - because it was on a stage that Under really shone.

Those discussions about signing them turned into blatant begging from me after the band gave me Slick to listen to in February. "We suppose you ought to hear what you might be releasing" they said. After the first listen "Oh. My. God. I want you" I said. The last few years have been incredible for underground heavy music in the UK, but a handful of albums have stood out and set the bar for those following in their footsteps. I'm talking about the likes of Boss Keloid's "Herb Your Enthusiasm" or Elephant Tree's self-titled LP. Slick is one of those kinda records. It also references two of my favourite bands, Rush and The Melvins. Who else but Under could add those two influences into their musical melange and not be beholden to them?

At the core of Under's sound is the singing of all three members. Lead vocal lines are sometimes clean, sometimes growled, sometimes shouted, culminating in points in songs where they come to together in the most sublime three-part harmonies. The nine songs on Slick are all progressive, in the best and truest sense of the word: containing odd, angular rhythms and time changes with melodies going off at tangents unexpectedly. Moments of noisy dissonance are followed by sections of unparalleled musical beauty.

Rather than comment on each individual song I'm gonna leave you to discover most of the gems contained on Slick for yourself. I will say that second song "Innards" features the most amazingly widescreen riff from Simon Mayo and shivers-down-the-spine harmonies from all three. Fifth song "Home" you can hear for yourself on YouTube. The band save the best for last: the closing duo of "Worst To Come" and "Below In The Wreck". The former has a creepy undertone and massive tunneldragging bass from Matt Franklin. The latter is built on an Andy Preece shuffling drum pattern and builds and builds to a crescendo of such goosebump-causing majesty that I wonder how Under will ever better it. For me, its their masterpiece.

This isn't really a review. It's an explanation as to why I'm so happy to be releasing this amazing album. Its a love letter to Slick. My first release, and what a release. I can't wait for you all to hear it.